THURLOW HUNT MEETING – HORSEHEATH - Saturday 28th February 2010

Advanced Going: Good - Good to Soft

1.00 p.m.. Horseheath Hunts Club Members –10 entries

Briars Mist won at Horseheath back in 2008, but was beaten 25 lengths when 3^rd in the Club Members at Marks Tey this season. Find Me Another won a couple of Ladies Opens back in 2008 and ran well when 2^nd behind Irish Rebel in Horseheath Members in Jan, with Good Vintage just behind in 3^rd and Saddlers Melody sent off favourite but pulling up. Portavo and Romper Stomper haven’t been in the winners enclosure since 2007, but Romper Stomper ran well when beaten 10 lengths in an Intermediate at Cottenham in February. Rock Charlie won a Restricted in 2009 at Horseheath and should run well. Golden Child ran at Cottenham in December finishing 3^rd beaten 10 lengths in the Club Members race.

Selection: Saddlers Melody (Salsero)

1.30 p.m. Intermediate–17 entries

Of the 3 horses yet to get on the track in 2010 Change the Plan and Reymysterio can be discounted but the expensively bought and rather challenging Jolly Boys Outing maybe be worth a look – won a Restricted at Whitfield in May ‘09. Entries who have run this season are Thenford Ryde who finished 2^nd at the weather affected Open at Horseheath and this form can probably be discounted. Lady Ann Lewis 2^nd to Ballynonty and 3 lengths clear of Ski Dazzle in the Intermediate at Marks Tey could well are in the frame. If 6 yr. old Sweden from the well known Rucker stable makes the trip, he will be worth watching but was an outpaced 2^nd to Buckingham Bill in the Whitfield Intermediate. The Crow/Burton connection is often seen in East Anglia at this time of the year and in Sweden they certainly have a lively contender for the race if he retains the ability shown last year. Another promising entry is Peter Hall trained Goscar Rock (Ire) who has run 3 times this season - Cottenham comfortably winning the seven year olds and over Maiden here last month, thirty lengths ahead of evens favourite Bynack Mhor but then a poor 4^th to Lotta Presents in a Higham Restricted, then a made all win a Cottenham Restricted beating the promising Captain Marshal by 8 lengths. 11 yr. old Jazz Attack had an excellent run, 2^nd to High Toby in a Club Members at Godstone on 14^th February. Smugglers Run only run this season was a game win at Whitfield in a Restricted earlier this month on good to soft ground. One to watch is Exceptionnel who was. 2^nd to Heavy Weather in the Members at Whitfield on 7^th February.

Selection: Goscar Rock (Smugglers Run)

2.05 p.m. Ladies Open– 22 entries

King Du Berlais and course specialist Mid Div And Creep are likely to renew their rivalry here with the score standing at 1-1 for the season. Other fancied horses include Delightful Cliche hopefully making his seasonal debut, Petit Lord twice 2^nd at Cottenham this season, Sweet Citizen course winner last season and Ungaro who would win this easily if running anywhere near to his rules form. King Du Berlais appeared to have come on leaps and bounds when winning at Marks Tey two weeks ago. Conditions are likely to be testing and as both he and Mid Div And Creep are race fit and like the course we would expect them both to make the frame with our preference for the former. King Du Berlais beat Delightful Cliche when they last met here and we would not expect the form to be reversed - the latter has good place chances. Petit Lord finished 2^nd twice behind Big Moment this season and placed 3^rd behind Sweet Citizen here last season and also has a place chance. It would obviously be a real gamble to back Sweet Citizen who hasn’t been seen for over a year and is now 13 – watch the betting for clues to his chances. Ungaro has disappointed in both his Hunter Chase starts and seems to be running well below form; if Heather Kemp can find the key to him then he would have a serious chance but he’s probably best watched.

Selection: King Du Berlais (Mid Div And Creep)

2.40 p.m. Mens Open –30 entries

If you follow horses proven on a course you have seven victors to choose. They have all won during the previous two seasons, and this season in different grades at Horseheath. Rydal Park and Where’s My Baby won in both 2008 and 2009, The Hookie Bookie, Northall Lad and Jilted Lover won in 2008, whilst Gaelsbob won in 2009 and Denvale this year. Denvale easily won a four runner Men’s Open at the previous Horseheath meeting, where Garundi pulled up. Garundi has since finished 2^nd in a slowly run Men’s Open at Godstone. Rydal Park is the third horse to have won an Open, his win was achieved at North Carlton ahead of Moscow Gold and Present Glory (a stable companion of Denvale). Northall Lad finished 2^nd in the Men’s Open at the last Cottenham meeting behind Merry Vic, where Moscow Court finished 4^th. Irilut, now 14, finished 3^rd on his seasonal debut at Whitfield to Ruairi, in which both The Hookie Bookie and Round the Isles pulled up; in this race Gaelsbob unseated his rider. Go North’s performances improved throughout last year, and he holds a 2 to 1 advantage over Where’s My Baby; his first run of 2010 was at Detling where he was pulled up, he has since had an outing in the charity race at Fakenham. Where’s My Baby has yet to finish outside the first two in points, and only just failed to peg back Start Royal at Cottenham when conceding weight. Jilted Lover ran well in his first race for two years, finishing 3^rd to Sigma Digital at Mark’s Tey. Another having its first run for two years was Unowatimeen, who finished 2^nd in a 2 mile 4 furlong Hunter Chase at Bangor; previously he had victories under Rules; his win in a Novice Hurdle was against Barber’s Shop – currently the second favourite for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next month.

Selection: Unowatimeen (Rydal Park)

3.10 p.m. Restricted – 24 entries

After winning a Maiden in January 2009, Latenightdip scored a 2^nd in the Restricted at Garthorpe the following March, finishing just three lengths behind Little Fountain, but is yet to have raced this season. Minehill Lad (Ire) was 2^nd in a Restricted at Horseheath last year, just a head behind joint favourite Rock Charlie; following that, the nine year old managed two respectable 3^rd places at Dingley and High Easter, but after two starts has yet to be placed this season. Karen Lawther trained Single Player finished 3^rd in this race last year, some distance behind first place Where’s My Baby, but just one length behind Lord of the Knar. By way of a comparison, Well Corned finished 10 lengths behind Lord of Knar in the Restricted at High Easter last year. The ten year old Single Player (Ire) had has two places from three starts between the flags, both on this course, but does lack the experience of some of the other entries. Toe To Hand (Ire) was 2^nd in the Restricted at Northaw, just two lengths behind Kipper; the eight year old has experience on the Horseheath course but has also been beaten by other entry Tuesday Club (Ire) in a Maiden at Marks Tey by five lengths. Promising Maiden winners in this race include Joe Turner’s Broken Beau (Ire) who took won the second division of Open Maiden at Marks Tey a few weeks ago, with a six length lead over Coxwell Snowstorm, this being the only place this season after three starts. Fergal O’Brien trained Horsham Lad took the third division of younger horses Maiden at Whitfield with a lead of 5 lengths, making two places from two starts between the flags. Whistle Blowing (Ire) was a Maiden winner at Horseheath with a ten length lead over favourite Jonlahy; this was the only place between flags but has had 26 starts under rules and 9 places (including one flat).

Selection: Single Player (Horsham Lad)

3.45. p.m. Open Maiden (Div 1) –25 entries

The Maiden race was divided on entry and of the two divisions this one looks stronger. Orient Legend has been costly to follow but the horse is clear top rated in this contest and that elusive first win can't be far off; earlier this month, on his last run he finished 2^nd at Marks Tey to Bynack Mhor, beaten 2½ lengths. Mill Five Acre was 3^rd in Bynack Mhor's race at Marks Tey, 8 lengths behind Orient Legend and he should at least run into a place here; that run was an improvement on what he did last season when he finished 4^th on four occasions out of 6 starts. Gerald Bailey runs Kandelin here; on his seasonal debut he was 3^rd at North Carlton earlier this month beaten 11½ lengths behind Harlaxton, that was his second placing at the Lincolnshire course. Dan Maguire was 2^nd on his pointing debut at Eyton On Severn beaten ¾ length behind Pack Drill but then fell on his next outing; he fell four out at Higham last month in the race won by Three Chords. Coleraine was 2^nd on his pointing debut at here in January 09 beaten a head by The Single Player however his form tailed off after that run and he was well beaten at Marks Tey on his seasonal bow when finishing 6^th. Marine Gunner was placed twice from 3 outings last season and was 2^nd, beaten 2 lengths by Boulliac at Detling on his final appearance last year in March. Tay Jay Vay was prominent for a long way at Larkhill last month before pulling up and given his connections he could be interesting if turning out here. Heezbehindyou was placed twice from four outings in 2007 including a 2^nd at Eyton On Severn beaten 2 lengths behind Beautiful Dawn. Tinchel was placed once from 8 starts for Nick Gifford when 3^rd at Towcester in April 07; his other form is very ordinary and it's difficult to see him troubling the judge here. Briarhill Boy has achieved little in four starts in Irish points but any market moves would be the best guide to his chances as he's from a very competent yard. Posh Chatouille was in training with Nicky Henderson but never saw the racecourse for him, again the betting market would be the best guide to his chances. Orient Legend must go close to losing his Maiden tag here and Heezbehindyou can give him the most to do with Mill Five Acre, if reproducing his Marks Tey form, also making the frame.

Selection: Orient Legend (Heezbehindyou)

4.20 p.m. Open Maiden (Div) 2 – 24 entries

Jolly Rock was 2^nd on his seasonal debut at Whitfield earlier this month, beaten 5 lengths by Horsham Lad, but it was run in the slowest time of the 3 divisions that day; last season he was 2^nd on his only appearance beaten 6 lengths by Dhu Loch at Bredwardine in May 09. Byways Boy represents Gerald Bailey's yard here and he was 2^nd at Thorpe Lodge earlier this month beaten 15 lengths by Unoitmakessense; he had been placed twice from 7 starts under Rules including a 2^nd at Leicester. Court Again was 3^rd at Whitfield, beaten 11 lengths by Nomadic Dreamer in a race run 10 seconds faster than the one Jolly Rock participated in. Salsero was 4^th at Cottenham to Pocket Park earlier this month, beaten 28 lengths; he'd previously been placed three times under Rules when trained by Lucy Wadham including a 2^nd at Plumpton, he could get placed in this contest and might reward each way backers. Caged Tiger was placed 3^rd three times from 5 starts last season, but isn't the most resolute of battlers and was well trounced at Godstone earlier this month when the last of 3 finishers. Badger Sett was made favourite to land a Whitfield Maiden earlier this month but could only finish 6^th beaten 12 lengths by Hardwick Wood, but expect him to improve for that run. Twilight Eagle was 2^nd at Higham behind the ultra impressive Three Chords last month beaten 25 lengths. My Flora was pulled up on her only run last season when not acting on the fastish going; given the expected underfoot conditions here, she could step up markedly on that performance. Solana has placed form on this course when she was 2^nd to Mid Div And Creep beaten 10 lengths in a Mar's Maiden here in February 08. Don Cantillon runs the unraced Jump Up here, the market maybe the best guide to this one's chances

Selection: Jolly Rock (Court Again)

Enjoy some great racing